April 2012

April 30, 2012

There seems to be a little confusion lately regarding the proper color for off-road motorcycle boots. I believe that this mix-up is typical of amateurs new to a sport, who confuse details such as ON ROAD and OFF ROAD motorcycling. This is unfortunate, but what can be done? Sometimes people with little-to-no experience in something pontificate as though they have knowledge in an area. I have even seen them stoop as far as a generic search on Google, as if Internet searches are a credible method of research. It is at times such as these that I suggest we exercise love and grace,but we often must set the facts in order.

I would like to thank Twitter follower Scott Becker (@sbeck5455) for sending this very factual piece of evidence to support what all the FASTEST motocross riders already know: white boots are the choice of MOTOCROSS champions.

(Click on image for a larger photo in case the evidence is not clear)

Now, if there are those out there who confuse MOTOCROSS with ROAD BIKING, well, let's at least be nice to them until they get their training wheels off their motorcycles.

April 25, 2012

Over the course of my life I've been fortunate enough to find myself with a vantage point on the behavior of all types of people under all sorts of circumstances. An enormous benefit of this has been the sheer entertainment value provided therein. One example of this is the contact sport which has provided hours of fun for young and old alike. What is this sport, you ask? It's called the Blame Game. Immensely popular, timeless in its appeal, the Blame Game has been passed down as a classic from generation to generation. I am sure you've had at least some exposure to the fun and frolick this game delivers, but just to help you maximize your enjoyment of an American classic, I thought I'd supply a few of the rules I've observed in operation as folks have played this game for hour upon hour. I know these rules are helpful, because they've kept people engaged in playing the Blame Game long after most would have tired of such sport. So here you are, the Rules of the Blame Game (and, by the way, if these don't help you reach maximum enjoyment of the game, it's not my fault. Blame it on the person who gave me the idea for this article, she's the one that is the cause of all of this! (You know who you are!))

1. The person playing the Blame Game is never allowed to take responsibility for anything that ever happens, ever.

2. Someone else, or several someone elses, must be chosen to "receive" the blame for what has gone wrong (please note: it makes no difference whether or not the recipient(s) of the blame was actually responsible, or even involved in the situation at all. It is even okay if they have absolutely no knowledge of what happened.)

3. A motive or reason for the behavior of the recipient of the blame must be concocted, and again, it need not have any bearing on actual facts.

4. A decent amount of vitriol may be mixed in, and heaped mightily on the head of the recipient of the blame.

5. Blame can be assigned to the recipient through several means of communication, such as gossip, Internet chat rooms, blog commentary, coffee pot conferences, telephone calls, text messages, and the like. As a matter of fact, today's communication technology provides no end to the ways in which blame can be assigned to someone else. Accomplished gamers use any and all these channels continuously.

6. Others should be enlisted to agree with the blamer and to join in the assigning of blame to the recipient. The more voices in the choir of blame, the more the blamers can actually feel that they are justified in their blaming, and the more they can comfort eachother that their lack of personal performance is not their fault.

7. All manner of emotions can be dressed up in the Blame Game, such as envy, jealousy, hatred, covetousness, bitterness, self-pity, and the advanced condition known as "holier-than-though."

8. Once the fun of blaming starts to wear off, it is often helpful to get around other blamers to confirm the acidity of one's thoughts and to keep from slipping into any amount of introspection or taking responsibility for one's actions.

9. The Blame Game is extremely popular in election years, and can be used to avoid any real discussion of issues or principles. The best way to take advantage of this particular aspect is to pick a side and immediately begin blaming the other side for everything wrong in the country. Once you see how easy this is, you'll understand why it's so popular.

April 05, 2012

The other day I was playing around on Twitter and sent out some "one-sided" words. Among the many other peculiarities of our language, one-sided words are those we use in one form, but never in the other. As you read through these, see if you can think up some more and add them to the comment section below.

1. We say "outrageous" but never "rageous"

2. We say "uncanny" but never "canny"

3. We say "indescribable" but never "describable"

4. We say "redundant" but never "dundant" (thanks to Peter Merante for that one)

5. We say "rejuvenated" but never "juvenated" (thanks to Mitchell Boersma)

April 04, 2012

With the prevalence of High-Def television, video, photography, computer screens, and even smart phones, our modern eyes have grown accustomed to seeing things in clear focus. Going back to older technology is immediately noticeable, and seems fuzzy and ancient.

I find that this can be a metaphor for life. Some people seem to live lives that are clear and in focus, while others move through days of fuzziness with no direction. What is the difference? And what are some things you can do to make sure to live your own life in the vibrant clarity only high-definition can produce? The answer is intentionality; clearly defining what's most important and then deploying your time, talents, and resources toward those ends accordingly.

1. Understand Your Purpose: Knowing who you are begins with knowing whose you are. Unearth, detect, and discover your God-given purpose and you will be giving your life the highest possible clarity.

2. Pursue a Dream: Knowing your overall purpose opens the door to dreams. As Orrin Woodward and I wrote in Launching a Leadership Revolution, clarifying your actions by aligning them in the direction of a dream can have massive motivational power.

3. Set Specific Goals: Dreams without goals set toward their attainment are mere fantasies. Those goals must be specific, believable, achievable, written and spoken, and have a target date for completion.

4. Follow a Game Plan: A game plan is a map that guides you through the obstacles and hurdles and gives you a route to your goals. What specific steps can you take to hit your goals? Who should you enlist to help and support you in that quest? What rewards will you allow yourself upon hitting your goals? These are just some of the elements that go into a produtive game plan.

5. Execute: There is no substitute for hard work. Tim Tebow said, "It's not hard to beat talent when talent won't work hard." The most successful people in life are not the ones with the most talent, but rather those who have the ability to push themselves to excellence. Remember: You won't reach high if you won't push on.

6. Measure Your Results: Orrin Woodward is big on calling this step "Keeping Score." Having goals but not measuring your progress against them is like bowling in the dark. Have the courage to confront brutal reality and get a true, accurate measure on how you are progressing.

7. Adjust Intelligently: Analyze your results and make adjustments as necessary. These don't have to be huge - just smart. It is at this step where a mentor or coach can prove invaluable because often we are blind to our limiting factors and destructive tendencies.

8. Persist in the Process: Many times success is nothing more than hanging on long enough for it to show up. Stay the course. Be tough enough to stick it out. Once having put your hands to the plow, don't look back. Keep at it.

9. Enjoy the Journey: The cliches are flying fast and furiously now. But this is a big one. Life is a pilgrimage, not a destination. Be sure to celebrate your victories.

10. Touch Lives Along the Way: If you only embodied #9, you would be a selfish Hedonist. But if you enjoy the journey while serving others, you will not only be more fun to be around, but will lift others in the process. Remember: The selfish life is not worth living (and neither is the shellfish life, when you really think about it!)

11. Take Time Out: Be wise enough to know how you operate. Schedule in deliberate breaks for rest and restoration, so you can continue to function at peak capacity.

12. Keep Your Priorities Straight: This is good advice in two ways: a) for proper allotment of your time and resources as you strive toward excellence (thereby making the most productive use of what you've been given), and b) to keep you from losing track of who you are and what you are about. In those famous words from The Lion King as said to Mufasa, "Never forget who you are."

13. Give glory to God: When it's all said and done, there is usually a lot more said than done. And the little we actually do accomplish is for, by, and through God's grace.

These are the 13 megapixels critical for constructing a High-Def life. Challenge yourself to keep them in focus and enjoy the vibrancy that results!